Ice Resurfacing Sled

ABSTRACT

An ice resurfacing sled adapted to be displaced over an ice surface for resurfacing the ice surface is disclosed. The ice resurfacing sled includes an enclosure adapted to slide over the ice surface. The enclosure includes a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. The ice resurfacing sled also includes a torch mounted on the enclosure and extending partially inside the enclosure and adapted to heat an air inside the enclosure by burning a combustible gas to partially melt ice of the ice surface into water. Additionally, the ice resurfacing sled includes an absorbent pad attached to the enclosure and adapted to absorb the water from the ice surface. The ice surface is resurfaced due to melting of ice present on the ice surface as the enclosure is displaced over the ice surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, generally, to an ice resurfacing sled. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to an ice resurfacing sled having an absorbent pad for absorbing water from an ice surface.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, the horizontal ice surface is maintained by a resurfacing machine that includes a scraper mechanism to scrape off an upper layer of the ice surface, together with a flooding device that releases a thin layer of water over the scraped ice surface so that the water can freeze and form a fresh surface layer which is free from gouges and cracks. However, these resurfacing machines are bulky. Also, as the ice surface is flooded with water for resurfacing the ice surface, sometimes, the water may not freeze completely, which is undesirable.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure an ice resurfacing sled adapted to be displaced over an ice surface for resurfacing the ice surface is provided. The ice resurfacing sled includes an enclosure adapted to slide over the ice surface. The enclosure includes a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. The ice resurfacing sled also includes a torch mounted on the enclosure and extending partially inside the enclosure and adapted to heat an air inside the enclosure by burning a combustible gas to partially melt ice of the ice surface into water. Additionally, the ice resurfacing sled includes an absorbent pad arranged at the second longitudinal end and coupled to the enclosure. The absorbent pad is adapted to absorb the water from the ice surface. The ice surface is resurfaced due to melting of ice present on the ice surface as the enclosure is displaced over the ice surface.

In an embodiment, the ice resurfacing sled further includes a handrail arranged at the first longitudinal end of the enclosure to facilitate a sliding of the enclosure on the ice surface.

In an embodiment, the ice resurfacing sled further includes a gas tank mounted on the handrail and adapted to store the combustible gas and supply the combustible gas to the torch.

In an embodiment, the ice resurfacing sled further includes a conduit connected to the gas tank and the torch and facilitates a flow of the combustible gas from the gas tank to the torch.

In an embodiment, the ice resurfacing sled further includes a sensor adapted to measure a temperature of the air inside the enclosure.

In an embodiment, the ice resurfacing sled further includes a plurality of spring clamps coupling the absorbent pad to the enclosure, the spring clamps bias the absorbent pad in contact with the ice surface.

In an embodiment, the absorbent pad is removably coupled with the enclosure.

In an embodiment, the absorbent pad is a towel.

In an embodiment, the enclosure is made of a metal.

In an embodiment, the enclosure includes a roof and a plurality of sidewalls extending outwardly from the roof and defining a chamber therebetween. The sidewalls define an edge of the enclosure. The edge is adapted to abut the ice surface and defines and access opening of the chamber.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawing, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an ice resurfacing sled for resurfacing an ice surface, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an enclosure of the ice resurfacing sled of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the ice resurfacing sled, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the ice resurfacing sled, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an ice resurfacing sled 100 (hereinafter referred to as a sled 100) suitable for resurfacing an ice surface 200 is shown. The sled 100 includes an enclosure 102, a handrail 104 coupled to the enclosure 102, a gas tank 106 mounted on the handrail 104, a propane torch 108 (hereinafter referred to as a torch 108) mounted on the enclosure 102, and an absorbent pad 110 coupled to the enclosure 102. The enclosure 102 is made of metal or a heat-conducting material and includes a roof 112 (i.e., top plate 112), a plurality of sidewalls (best shown in FIG. 2), for example, a front wall 114, a rear wall 116, a first sidewall 118, and a second sidewall 120, extending outwardly and downwardly from the roof 112 and defining a chamber 122 therebetween. Further, free edges of the plurality of sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120 defines a bottom edge 124 of the enclosure 102 defining an access opening 125 of the chamber 122. Accordingly, the access opening 125 is arranged opposite to the roof 112 of the enclosure 102. It may be appreciated that the access opening 125 faces the ice surface 200 and the bottom edge 124 abuts/contact the ice surface 200 when the sled 100 is positioned over the ice surface 200 for resurfacing the ice surface 200.

Further, the roof 112 defines a mounting hole 126 to facilitate the mounting of the torch 108. The torch 108 is adapted to heat an air inside the chamber 122 of the enclosure 102 that in turn heat the ice present on the ice surface 200. In some embodiments, a flame from the torch 108 may directly heat the ice surface 200 and partially melt the ice surface 200. The torch 108 extends inside the chamber 122 through the mounting hole 126 and is adapted to burn the propane gas received from the gas tank 106, thereby facilitating a heating of the enclosure 102.

As shown, the handrail 104 is coupled to the enclosure 102 and facilitates a sliding of the enclosure 102 on the ice surface 200. The handrail 104 is arranged at a first longitudinal end 130 of the enclosure 102 and extends outwardly from the first longitudinal end 130 of the enclosure 102, while the absorbent pad 110 is arranged at a second longitudinal end 132 of the enclosure 102 and is coupled with the enclosure 102. Accordingly, the enclosure 102 is arranged between the absorbent pad 110 and the handrail 104.

As shown, the handrail 104 is coupled to an elongated rod 140 that in turn is coupled to the enclosure 102 (i.e., the front wall 114). The elongated rod 140 is attached to the enclosure 102 (i.e., the front wall 114) via a pair of fasteners, such as, eye bolts 142. Similarly, the handrail 104 is attached to the elongated rod 140 via a pair of fasteners, such as eye bolts 144. In an embodiment, the handrail 104 is adapted to pivot relative to the elongated rod 140, and hence relative to the enclosure 102. To slide the sled 100 over the ice surface 200, the handrail 104 is lifted from the ground and is held at an inclination relative to the ground surface by pivoting the handrail 104 relative to the elongated rod 140. In an embodiment, the handrail 104 may be directly connected with the enclosure 102 (i.e., the front wall 114) and is fixedly attached to the enclosure 102 (i.e., the front wall 114). In such a case, the elongated rod 140 may be omitted, and the handrail 104 may be connected to the enclosure 102 such that the handrail 104 extends at an inclination relative to the enclosure 102. As shown, the handrail 104 includes a pair of handles 150, 152 arranged spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other, and a cross arm 154 extending between the handles 150, 152 to facilitates a holding of the sled 100 by an operator. The handles 150, 152 are connected to the elongated rod 140 and extend in a longitudinal direction away from the enclosure 102.

The handles 150, 152 supports the gas tank 106 and are connected to the gas tank 106. In an embodiment, a reinforcement plate (not shown) may extend between the handles 150, 152 such that the gas tank 106 rests on the reinforcement plate. Accordingly, the gas tank 106 is supported on the handles 150, 152, and on the reinforcement plate. The gas tank 106 is adapted to store a combustible gas, such as, propane and supplies the combustible gas to the torch 108 via a conduit 160 for heating the enclosure 102 and the air inside the enclosure 102 to melt the ice.

Additionally, the absorbent pad 110 is coupled to the second longitudinal end 132 of the enclosure 102 (i.e., the rear wall 116) via a plurality of spring clamps 162 (shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The spring clamps 162 bias the absorbent pad 110 in a horizontal position to keep the absorbent pad 110 in contact with the ice surface 200 during the sliding of the sled 100 over the ice surface 200 to enable an absorption of water from the ice surface 200. As shown, the enclosure 102 may include an extension plate 164 extending from the rear wall 116 in the longitudinal direction, and the spring clamps 162 removably couples the absorbent pad 110 to the extension plate 164. In an embodiment, the absorbent pad 110 maybe a towel. In an embodiment, the absorbent pad 110 may be made of any material suitable to absorb water and has a relatively high water retention or absorbing capacity.

Furthermore, the sled 100 includes a temperature sensor 170 to monitor/measure a temperature inside the enclosure 102. The temperature sensor 170 is mounted on the enclosure 102 and may include a display (not shown) to show a value of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 170. In an embodiment, the operator operating the sled 100 along the ice surface 200 may monitor the temperature inside the enclosure 102 via the display, and switch-on or switch-off the torch 108 based on the value/measurements of the temperature. In an embodiment, the temperature sensor 170 may be in communication with a controller (not shown) of the torch 108, and may automatically control an operation of the torch 108 based on the value of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 170.

An operation of the sled 100 is now described. Before igniting the torch 108, an operator may attach the absorbent pad 110 with the extension plate 164, and hence the enclosure 102, and tighten the spring clamps 162 such that the absorbent pad 110 is biased to the horizontal position and contacts the ice surface 200. Thereafter, the operator may ignite the torch 108 and position the enclosure 102 on the ice surface 200 such that bottom edge 124 of the enclosure 102 abuts the ice surface 200. Subsequently, the operator may grab the handrail 104 and starts moving the sled 100 over the ice surface 200. In an embodiment, the operator may move the sled 100 over the ice surface 200 when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 170 is above a threshold value. The threshold value may correspond to a temperature value above which the ice starts melting.

As the operator moves the sled 100 over the ice surface 200, the ice starts melting due to heating of the air inside the enclosure 102, and subsequent contact of heated air with the ice surface 200 through the access opening 125, converting a portion of the ice into water. In some embodiments, the flame emanating from the torch 108 may also contact the ice surface 200 through the access opening 125 and may melt the ice. The water, so formed, is subsequently absorbed by the absorbent pad 110 as the sled 100 is moved along the ice surface 200. In this manner, the sled 100 facilitates a resurfacing of the ice surface 200 and facilitates in preparing ice surface 200 for skating. Also, the sled 100 is simple in construction and can be easily moved from one location to another location. Moreover, the sled 100 can be used at a remote location as the sled 100 is operated without any electricity.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

-   100 ice resurfacing sled -   102 enclosure -   104 handrail -   106 gas tank -   108 propane torch -   110 absorbent pad -   112 roof -   114 front wall -   116 rear wall -   118 first sidewall -   120 second sidewall -   122 chamber -   124 bottom edge -   125 access opening -   126 mounting hole -   130 first longitudinal end -   132 second longitudinal end -   140 elongated rod -   142 eye bolt -   144 eye bolt -   150 handle -   152 handle -   154 cross-arm -   160 conduit -   162 spring clamps -   164 extension plate -   170 temperature sensor -   200 ice surface 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ice resurfacing sled adapted to be displaced over an ice surface for resurfacing the ice surface, the ice resurfacing sled comprising: an enclosure adapted to slide over the ice surface, the enclosure includes a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; a torch mounted on the enclosure and extending partially inside the enclosure and adapted to heat an air inside the enclosure by burning a combustible gas to partially melt the ice of the ice surface into water; and an absorbent pad arranged at the second longitudinal end and coupled to the enclosure, the absorbent pad is adapted to absorb the water from the ice surface, wherein the ice surface is resurfaced in response to melting of the ice present on the ice surface as the enclosure is displaced over the ice surface.
 2. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1 further including a handrail arranged at the first longitudinal end of the enclosure to facilitate a sliding of the enclosure on the ice surface.
 3. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 2 further including a gas tank mounted on the handrail and adapted to store the combustible gas and supply the combustible gas to the torch.
 4. The ice resurfacing of claim 3 further including a conduit connected to the gas tank and the torch and facilitates a flow of the combustible gas from the gas tank to the torch.
 5. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1 further including a sensor adapted to measure a temperature of the air inside the enclosure.
 6. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1 further including a plurality of spring clamps coupling the absorbent pad to the enclosure, wherein the spring clamps bias the absorbent pad in contact with the ice surface.
 7. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is removably coupled with the enclosure.
 8. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is a towel.
 9. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is made of a metal.
 10. The ice resurfacing sled of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a roof and a plurality of sidewalls extending outwardly from the roof and defining a chamber therebetween, the sidewalls define an edge of the enclosure, wherein the edge is adapted to abut the ice surface and defines and access opening of the chamber. 